Amador County – Jackson City Council on Monday inducted in its first paid, full-time fire chief, and recognized 7-year volunteer chief Mark Morton for his contributions, which will continue.

A few dozen people, including many uniformed Jackson Police and Fire personnel, attended a ceremony to induct new Jackson Fire Chief Marc Crain, who will take over for Morton as the top paid, full-time chief. Morton said his job will continue as it is, and he will remain as the volunteer Deputy Chief. His job will not change, though Crain will get all of the paperwork.

Crain, who is adjusting to a move two weeks ago to Amador County from the southeast metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, said “it has been an interesting process” for he and his wife in “looking for an organization where I can share some of my training abilities” and skills to help the department.

Crain is currently a nationally accredited Fire Officer and Fire Instructor and has taught Command and Control courses in the Northwest and Alaska. He is also a member of the Oregon/California Incident Management Team.

City Clerk Gisele Cangelosi led Crain in his oath of office, and then Morton presented Crain with his chief’s badge. Mayor Connie Gonsalves then read a proclamation of thanks for Morton, who began as a volunteer with Jackson Fire Department in 1995, and served under former Chief Jack Quinn.

Gonsalves said “after some arm twisting by Mayor Gene Taylor,” Morton took over as Fire Chief after Quinn. In seven years as Chief, Morton responded to 3,800 calls, and played a role in the passage of Measure M, a county-wide sales tax that funds firefighters in the cities and county.

Police Chief Scott Morrison said in past police work in the Bay Area, he never worked with fire departments because they always did their own thing. But in 21 years here, “we’re really close with the Fire Department and with Chief Morton.”

Morrison said “I’m glad he’s staying on here,” and he added: “Long live the new Chief.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.